North Carolina Railroad Company’s economic development initiatives persuaded two foreign-based companies to establish manufacturing plants in The Tar Heel State.

A Danish manufacturer and printer of nonwoven hygiene products, Fibertex Personal Care will be locating in Randolph County, while EGGER Wood Products, an Austrian manufacturer, locates its plant in Davidson County, North Carolina.

Fibertex will invest $60 million to construct a manufacturing facility at an established industrial site on Pineview Road in Asheboro, with plans to create 145 jobs. Through the North Carolina Railroad Company’s economic development initiative, NCRR Invests, NCRR is investing approximately $420,000 to assist with the construction of a new spur track to connect Fibertex to an adjacent Norfolk Southern line, which joins the North Carolina Railroad in High Point.

“The availability of freight rail infrastructure and service plays an important role as business and industry consider expanding or locating in North Carolina,” said Scott Saylor, President of the North Carolina Railroad Company.

“Through NCRR Invests, we work with our economic development partners to increase North Carolina’s competitive advantage in recruiting rail-served businesses to the state. The North Carolina Railroad Company has a long history in economic development and we are proud to partner in this exciting announcement of 145 new jobs in Randolph County,” he said.

In addition, EGGER Wood Products, an Austrian manufacturer of wood products used in furniture, wood construction and flooring, will invest $700 and create as many as 770 new jobs at the I-85 Corridor Park in Davidson County. EGGER Wood Products requires freight rail service on site. The I-85 Corridor Park will connect to the railroad line adjacent to Norfolk Southern’s Linwood Yard.

Through the North Carolina Railroad Company’s economic development initiative, NCRR Invests, the Company is investing approximately $3.5 million in the construction of a lead track and switches to connect the manufacturing facility to Linwood Yard and the North Carolina Railroad line, which is served by Norfolk Southern. The addition of this lead track will not only provide access to freight rail service to EGGER Wood Products, but will begin to open the remainder of the I-85 Corridor Park to future opportunities for freight rail users.

“Through our NCRR Invests initiative we collaborate with our economic development partners to ensure that North Carolina is competitively positioned to meet the freight rail infrastructure needs of new and expanding business and industry, creating jobs for the citizens of our state,” said Saylor. “We are proud to be a partner in this exciting opportunity for economic growth in Davidson County and the Triad.”